Catlinite is a fine-grained, iron-rich sedimentary rock primarily composed of clay minerals, famous for its deep red color. It is highly valued for its softness and ability to be carved into intricate shapes, most notably ceremonial pipes by Native American cultures. It is typically found in thin, stratified layers within quartzite formations.
Is this catlinite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch catlinite with a known reference. Catlinite sits at Mohs 2.5-3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Catlinite leaves a reddish streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Catlinite typically shows a dull luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red, reddish-brown, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitTypical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Catlinite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside catlinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with catlinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3
- Density
- 2.5-2.6 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Reddish
- Luster
- Dull
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Lapidary, Decorative, Cultural
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Beds
- Typical price
- $5-50 for rough slabs or small carvings
Where rockhounds find catlinite
2 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Pipestone, Minnesota, USA
- Wisconsin, USA
- South Dakota, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary beds country — that is the host setting where catlinite typically forms. If you start seeing quartzite, calcite, hematite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in South Dakota, Wisconsin — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find catlinite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
